Drop-side mechanism for cribs



Jan. 6, 1931.

J. MIC

HAL-

DROP SIDE MECHANISM FOR CRIBS Filed Dec.

Zlwuentou- JZomeMz'cZaZ Patented Jan. 6, 1931' insane JAMES iviroHAL,or, CHICAGO, IIiLINOIS, Assmmnro ,s'roaknmnrnsnirn'nn c012- PORATION, OFCHICAGO,- ILLINOIS Drier-sins MECHANISM FOR CRIBS A.pp1icatio1i:fi1erlDecember 30, 1927'. S erialNo. 243,669.

the novel mechanism for simple and easy operation.

A final, but nevertheless important object of my invention is to reducethe mechanism to extremely few parts, in order that the same may involvea small amount of labor and a minimum cost of materials.

\Vith the above objects in view and any others that maysuggestthemselves from the specification and claims to follow, a betterunderstanding of the invention maybe gained by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which s Figure 1 is a side elevation of atypical crib, illustrating my improvement;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the parts immediately involved in thedrop-side mechanism; and

' Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of l igure 2.

It is a familial fact that on cribs of the drop-side type, operatingmechanisms, of a more or less involved nature have been employed, thesemechanisms often comprehend- I ing delicate parts which get out oforderin a short time. Also, the costs of producing the structures have beenhigh, and the medium of operations has inmany-cases required undueattention or effort. In cases of this nature,'the mechanism is more ofan impediment than a benefit,especially when it is considered that thecrib is an article of light furniture and the operator is usually aperson without mechanical skill. It has therefore been myintention toeliminate the above Another object of my invention is to design.Byspecific reference to the drawing, 5 denotes the endposts, and ('3the angle-iron bed' frameof a typical chilts crib. The end posts) arefitted with vertical guide rods 7 along' 'wh1cli operates,thedropside 8,the

latter actualy consisting ofthe upperand' lower ralls Sand mtermediaterods or other spacing'material 9. Y Full lines show the nor malgpositionof the'i'lrop-side, and finely dotted lines in Figure 1 denote theloweredfposition thereof. 1 i

In order that thedrop-side may be suitably supported, I first attach byrivets 10' or other suitable means, the bases 11 of a'pair of anglebrackets 11a upon the frontal section of the frame bar 6. Between .thebrackets 11a I place a long bar 12, which has terminal reductious 12awhlch pass through slots'lll) cut in the respective wingslla. Tliereductions 120$ are of arcuate crosssection, and the slots 11?) are of asimilar curvature, clearly shown in Figure 3, so that the bar 12 is capable of being rocked or rolled byreason of its curved bearing, Inproximity to each bracket 11a, aplate 13 is welded or otherwise asecured frontally upouthebar 12, this plate extending downwardly with adeflected por- :tion 130, whose direction is inwardly of the Thevertical portion ofthe plate 13 is crib. cut with a vertically elongatedslot 137), in which rests a pin let projected inwardly of the crib froma hanger-lawhose baselea' is horizontal. andjadapted to besecured to theunder side. of the lowerdrop-side rail 8 by screws 16 or other means.

, Sincethe drop-sideis ofa free nature, except for its guidance alongthe lateral rods 7, it will be clear that it rests in the proper normalposition by the support of the; pin 14 at the bottom of the slot 13]) inthe plate 13, which itself has support in the brackets'lla.

However, if itisdesired that the drop-side be lowered all that isnecessary istliat the dc; flected portionl3a of either plate l3 begivenia light'lcick in a direction inward of tee crib; This will cause theplate'to swing in the direction of the arrow whereby to becomedisengaged from the pinl4, in which event the drop-sidelwill lose itssupportand descend to lowered"position, as indicated by the'iinelydotted lines. Theshock of-this descent is erate at their best.

ating un1ts is such as to locate each of them usually'cushioned bysuitable bufiers 17 at the'lower ends of the guide rods 7. v

" It will be seen that the relationof the bar reductions 12a and slots.116 performs the function of a hinge for the platesll3, but does notentail ,the complications of the typical hinge, The" peculiarconstruction I have devised enables the brackets 11a and the bar 12 toserve as supports and to embody be+ tween them a hinge relationwithouttlie aid of a single extra part, so thatasimple and economicalstructure is the result. It is also significant that the slots ,llhmaybe fashioned in a manner to perfectly control the strokes of the plates13, so that these may op- The spacing of the opernear one end ofthecrib, so that the attendant mayfind it justas handyxto operate thedrop-side mechanism near one end of the crib as near the other. uNaturally it may be said thata single unitcould suiiice, since bothunits are identical however, where a crib is of considerable length,it'is advisable that a control be had near each=end.

It. is noted that the extensions 13a of the plates 13 are enlarged, thisbeing toprovide sufficient surface for the application of the attendantstoejwithout payingparticular attention at what point the toe is applied;The extensions are thus of ample width toenv able the attendant toactuate the mechanism Without especial attention. Whi'lethe oper-q dropside.

ation to lower the drop-side'has been ex plained, it will be apparentthatnothing further than the usual raising of the same by I hand isrequired to restore -it to normal posi- 2. A. securing and releasingmechanism for the drop side of a crib comprising a hanger carried by thedrop side, a pin extending laterally from the hanger, a pair of spacedbrackets mounted on the crib and provided Wltll curved bearing-formingslots, at bar between the spaced bracket-s on-the crib having itsextremities formed to seat in said curved slots andpivotallysupport saidbar, and a latch pla'te'on said'bar and slotted to receive said pin andfurnish a support for the drop side, said plate having a portion bentinwardly of the crib providing an inclined cam surface over-whichsaidpin is adapted to ride prior to said pin entering the slot in thelatch P v In testnnony whereof I aflix mv si nature.

JAMES MICllAL.

tion. Accordingly, when the upper rail 8 is I lifted, the pins 140i thehangersla crowd the portions 13a of the plates 13 inwardly of the crib,so as to operate the plates as latches and locate theni in apositio'n'to again receivethe p ns 14, at which time the plates 13swing 1. A securing and releasing mechanism for thedrop side of a cribcomprising a hanger carried by the drop side,a pin extendinglaterally'from the hanger, brackets mounted on thecrib and formed witharcuate slots, a bar between the brackets on the crib having itsextremities curved to seatfin. s'aidslots and pivotallysupport said barand a latch plate depending from said bar and slottedtore celve sald pinand furnish a support torth'e I

